Cam construction



Nov. 22, 1966 M. PHILIP 3,286,546

CAM CONSTRUCTION Original Filed April 20, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR[Harris Plaza}? BY JMHYGM ATTORNEYS Nov. 22, 1966 M. PHILIP 3,286,546

CAM CONSTRUCTION Original Filed April 20, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORATTORNEYS Nov. 22, 1966 M. PHILIP 3,286,546 CAM CONSTRUCTION OriginalFiled April 20, 1962 3 SheetsSheet 5 v 200 M Z/f zit .5.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent f 3,286,546 CAM CONSTRUCTIONMorris Philip, 2519 Grand Ave., Bronx, N.Y. Original application Apr.20, 1962, Ser. No. 189,125, now Patent No. 3,147,605. Divided and thisapplication June 12, 1964, Ser. No. 374,563

12 Claims. (Cl. 74-567) This invention relates to cam constructions andmore particularly to a cam construction used in a knitting machine.

This application is a division of copending application Serial No.189,125, filed April 20, 1962, now Patent No. 3,147,605.

More specifically, this invention is directed to an improved cam plateor cam lever used in a circular knitting machine which during therotation of the machine contacts an element of a knitting station tocause a change at the knitting station. Such levers, or cam plates, havea carnming surface at their forward extremity for contacting the elementto be moved. The distance between the carnming surface and the elementto be moved must normally be carefully adjusted, so that the carnmingsurface will impart sufficient movement to the movable element, butdisengage from the movable element at the appropriate time. If thisdistance is not carefully adjusted, the cam plate either does notperform its function or is liable to breakage by abutting part of themachine which it cannot move.

According to the present invention, this disadvantage is minimized :byproviding a cam construction comprising a supporting section, a camsection having a carnming surface adjacent its forward end, and meansresiliently securing said cam section to said supporting section formovement in a direction transverse to said carnming surface. Preferably,stop means are provided for limiting rearward movement of said camsection.

According to an illustrated, exemplary embodiment of this aspect of theinvention, there is provided a cam plate having opposed longitudinaledges, the forward portion of said plate defining a cam section having acarnming surface near the forward extremity thereof and the rear portionof said plate defining a supporting section for support ing said camsection. The plate has a lateral cut-out therethrough intermediate saidsections, with the cut-out extending inwardly from one of saidlongitudinal edges but terminating short of the other of saidlongitudinal edges to provide a relatively narrow, longitudinal portionon said plate defining a connecting strip. The connecting strip isresilient and pivotally connects the cam section to the supportingsection.

These and other aspects and objects of the present invention will bereadily apparent from the following description in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a fragmentary top elevation of a circular knitting machineof the type wherein the needle banks are stationary and the knittingcams rotate;

FIG. 2 shows a fragmentary vertical elevation, partially in section,taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1. This figure shows the counter chainin the position causing the pawl to rotate the counter chain;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of one embodiment of a cam plate;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a second embodiment of a cam plate;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation taken along the line 8-8 of FIG.4 showing how the cam section is secured to the supporting section ofthe cam plate;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a third embodi- 3,286,546 PatentedNov. 22, 1966 meat of a cam plate and shows the cam plate positionedover a portion of a knitting machine;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary diagrammatical plan view of a portion of aknitting machine and the cam plate of FIG. 6 showing the resilientmovement of the cam section during operation of the machine.

In the drawings, there is no figure which shows a circular knittingmachine in its entirety. Such complete circular knitting machines arewell known in the art and, therefore, in order to avoid unduecomplication in the drawings, there are only shown, in diagrammaticform, those portions of the machine with which the present invention isdirectly concerned.

As is well known, circular knitting machines comprise two general types.In one type of machine, namely, the cam-rotating type, needle bed orbeds are stationary while the yarn-feeds and knitting cams rotate. Inthe other type of machine, namely, the needle-rotating type, theyarn-feeds and knitting cams are stationary while the need-1e bed orbeds rotate. In each type of machine there is relative rotation betweenthe needles and the knitting cam-s. Although the present invention isapplicable to both types of machines, the invention will be particularlydescribed in connection with the cam-rotating type of multifeed circularknitting machines.

It will be further appreciated that both types of ma chines may haveonly one needle bank, which is generally a cylinder bank, or may havetwo needle banks, namely, a cylinder bank and a dial bank. The instantinvention is not directly concerned with the operation of the needles.Therefore, these have not been illustrated nor described. Furthermore,the dial bank and its associated cams and other parts have been omitted,the drawings merely diagrammatically showing a portion of the cylindercam ring.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the machine comprises a stationary frame(not shown) which supports a stationary annulus 10, within which thereis rotatably mounted the turntable 11. On the turntable 11, there ismounted, for movement therewith, the cylinder cam ring 12, whichincludes a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart cylinder knittingcam sections, only two cam sections 13A and 138, being shown. It will beunderstood that each cam section has associated therewith a yarn-feed(not shown), so that each cam section is considered a knitting station.By way of example, a machine of the type illustrated employs twentyknitting stations, .i.e., twenty knitting cams and their associated.

yarn-feeds. The illustrated machine is of the stationary needle,rotating-cam type, and the turntable is rotated in the direction ofarrow 11A by the main machine drive (not shown). The needles (not shown)do not rotate.

A support 14 is secured to the stationary annulus 10 by means of bolts15, support 14 providing the support for the control mechanism. Thepattern-control mechanism comprises a drum 16 fixedly mounted on shaft17 for rotation therewith. Shaft 17 is rotatably jou'rnalled in support14.

On shaft 17, between support 14 and drum 16, there is fixedly mounted aratchet wheel 18 having a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apartratchet teeth 19 around its periphery.

On support 14 there is mounted an outwardly extending shaft 28, and oneend 33 of each of levers 29, 30, 31 and 32 is journalled about shaft 28.Each of levers 29 through 32 extends laterally beyond drum 16 and issuperposed thereover, so that the free end of each lever is on the otherside of the drum from end 33. Each of levers 29 through 32 is providedwith a downwardly depending sensing stud 34, said stud being positionedover the drum 16.

Mounted around the periphery of the drum 16 are a plurality of endlesspattern chains 35, 36, 37 and 38, one pattern chain being positionedunder each lever, so that pattern chain 35 is mounted under itscorresponding lever 29, pattern chain 36 is mounted under itscorresponding lever 30, etc. The pattern chains are mounted about thedrum in any conventional manner, the drum having circumferentiallyspaced-apart guides, or sprockets, 39 about its periphery, so that thechains rotate with the drum 16. The structure of pattern chains is wellknown in the art and need not be described further herein, except topoint out that each chain, for example, comprises a plurality of linksof different heights, such as high link 40 and low link 41. Each timethe drum 16 rotates an angular distance equal to the spacing between theteeth of the ratchet wheel 18, another link is positioned under thesensing stud 34 of the appropriate lever.

Means are provided for selectively stepwise rotating the ratchet wheelin timed relation to the rotation of the turntable, and, therefore, intimed relation to the rotation of the rotating knitting stations therebyrotating the drum 16 and the pattern chains thereon to control theoperation of the machine and the various knitting operations. Althoughthis control means is partially illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, this means does not form part of the present invention, and isfully described and claimed in said copending application Serial No.189,125, now Patent No. 3,147,605. Lever 29 and pattern chain 35 arepart of this control means.

The manner in which the levers 30, 31 and 32 effect the changes in theoperation of the machine has been diagrammatically illustrated in FIGS.1 and 2, a detailed description not being necessary because suchstructure is well known in the art. In FIG. 2, the means associated withlever 30 for changing knitting patterns has been shown in phantom. Avertical bracket 80 is secured to support 14, and bracket 80 is providedwith two hori zontal guide rings 81 and 82, which vertically guide a rod83, the lower end 84 of rod 83 resting upon the free end 85 of lever 30.A collar 86 is secured to rod 83 beneath guide ring 81, and acompression spring 87 is mounted between collar 86 and guide ring 81 tobias rod 83 downwardly toward end 85 of lever 30. At the upper end ofrod 83, there is fixedly secured a cam lever, or cam plate, 88, having acamming surface 89.

The cylinder cam ring 12 includes a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced-apart knitting cam sections, only two sections, namely sections13A and 133 being diagrammatically shown. Cam section 13A constitutesthe first knitting station, and cam section 13B constitutes the lastknitting station.

Projecting outwardly from each knitting cam section are levers 91 and92, lever 91 being positioned above lever 92. When lever 30 is in thelow position, as when a low link of chain 36 is under the sensing studof lever 30, cam plate 88 is at such a height that its camming surface89 will engage lever 92 on the knitting cam section which passes cammingsurface 89 during the rotation of the turntable 11. When camming surface89 engages lever 92, the latter will be urged inwardly to effect anactual change in the knitting cam.

When a high link in chain 36 is positioned under the sensing stud oflever 30, lever 30 will be elevated to in turn elevate rod 83 and camplate 88 to an upper position, at which position the camming surface 89will be at the level of lever 91, so that lever 91 will be actuated whena knitting cam section passes the camming surface 89.

The manner in which levers 91 and 92 effect changes in the cams in theknitting cam sections is well known. It is therefore not considerednecessary to illustrate or discuss the internal structure of the camsections. Chain 37 and lever 31 are used to control rotation of a starwheel 102 by means of elements 107, 109, 110, 112, 117, 118 and 119'.This structure is fully described in said copending application SerialNo. 189,125, now Patent No. 3,147,605, and is described and claimed inmy application Serial No. 374,564, filed concurrently herewith,entitled.Star Wheel and Method of Setting Same. It is also notconsidered necessary to discuss in detail the purpose or structure ofany of the other pattern-control chains or the mechanisms which theyoperate, since these are also conventional in the art.

It will be appreciated that, although the pattern chains have beendescribed as being comprised of only high and low links, in manyinstances more than two sizes of links can be used. This is alsoconventional. In the illustrated, exemplary embodiment, pattern-controlchain 36 produces a change in the knitting cams. Pattern-control chainscan also be used to control the speed or rotation of the turntable, thesevering or addition of yarn, stitch tighteners, etc. In theillustrated, exemplary embodiment, cam plate 88 does not rotate, whilethe knitting stations do rotate; and, when cam plate 88 is moved to aparticular elevation, such as shown in FIG. 2, or cam plate 88 is at alevel with lever 91, each knitting station passing thereby will have itslever 91 actuated by camming surface 89.

It will be appreciated that, according to the setting of the controlmeans, pattem-control chain 36 can control lever 30 so as to effect allthe knitting stations or some of the knitting stations as more fullydescribed in said copending application Serial No. 189,125, now PatentNo. 3,147,604.

The preceding description has been primarily directed to an exemplarymeans for utilizing the cam plate construction of the present invention,and the latter will now be described in detail.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 3 through 7, the cam plate 88 comprisesa forward portion defining a cam section 200 and a rear portion defininga supporting section 201. The cam section 200 has an inclined cammingsurface 202 at its forward extremity, said surface effectuating themovement of levers or slides such as 91 and 92, previously described.The supporting section is provided at the rear thereof with arectangular hole 203 therethrough for mounting cam plate 88 near the topof rod 83 by means of a bolt (see FIG. 2).

The cam section is secured to the supporting section by a resilientconnecting strip 204 integral with the cam section and the supportingsection. The cam plate 88 has a lateral cut-out 205 intermediate the camsection and the supportingsection, said cut-out extending laterally fromone longitudinal edge 206 of the cam plate 88 toward the otherlongitudinal edge 207, but terminating short thereof, to provide arelatively narrow longitudinal portion on the cam plate which definessaid connecting strip 204. The cam section, the supporting section, andthe connecting strip all lie in the same plane. Cam plate 88 may be madefrom a single piece of flat metal stock, with connecting strip 204 beingspring tempered to provide its resiliency.

Except for the connecting strip 204, the forward edge 208 is alwaysspaced apart from the rear edge 209 of the cam section, so that a forceacting on camming surface 202 will tend to urge the cam sectionrearwardly in the direction of arrow 210 against the resilient action ofconnecting strip 204, which resiliently biases the cam sectionforwardly. Preferably, to provide means for limiting rearward movementof the cam section, a stop means is provided and, in the formillustrated in FIG. 3, the stop means is provided by forming the forwardedge 208 of the supporting member with the forwardly extendingprojection 211, which projects in the area of the cut-out "toward therear edge 209 of the cam section. This projection 211 is formed byforming cut-out 205 in a generally triangular shape, the cut-outincreasing longitudinally as the cut-out extends laterally from edge206. In the illustrated embodiment, the projection 211 extends into thearea of the cut-out near longitudinal edge 206. It is apparent that theprojection can be positioned at some other location (not shown) in thearea of the cut-out.

Referring to FIG. 7, lever or slide 91 is shown in the position where itcontacts the camming surface 202 as turntable 11 rotates in thedirection of arrow 11A. This position of slide 91 and cam section 200 isshown in solid lines. As the turntable continues its rotation, cammingsurface 202 moves slide 91 inwardly, and the cam section movesrearwardly a small distance against the resilient action of connectingstrip 204. The positions of cam section 200 and slide 91 at this pointare shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 7. In normal operation, theconnecting strip 204 is sufficiently strong to permit camming surface202 to urge slide 91 to its inward position without the cam sectionbeing moved rearwardly to its maximum extent. If cam plate 88, whenmounted on the machine, is positioned a little further inwardly thannecessary, the resiliency of connecting strip 204 will permit the camsection 200 to be moved rearwardly a little further during its cammingoperation.

It will be appreciated that, if cam plate 88 were made of a single solidpiece of steel, without cut-out 205, as has been done in the prior art,a maladjustment in the spacing of camming surface 202 relative to slide91 would not permit the cam section to move rearwardly. Under thesecircumstances, either the slide 91 or the cam plate would be severelydamaged or broken. This occasionally actually occurs in the prior art.It is apparent that the prior-art construction required very carefuladjustment of the spacing between the cam plate and slide 91. Because ofthe freedom of movement of cam section 200 relative to the supportingsection 201, the cam plate 88 of the present invention need not be asaccurately positioned as does the prior-art cam plate.

In FIG. 3, the connecting strip 204 integral with the sections of thecam plate provides the means for pivotally interconnecting thesesections, as well as means for resiliently urging the cam sectionforwardly. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the resilient means andpivoting means are separate. In this embodiment, cam section 200A andsupporting section 201A have generally the same shape of thecorresponding portion of the plate 88 shown in FIG. 3. However, camsection 200A is not integral with supporting section 201A. Support1ngsect1on 201A is provided near longitudinal edge 207A with forwardlyextending spaced-apart opposed lugs 212 for receiving therebetween arearwardly extending lug 213 on the corresponding edge of cam section200A. A pintle 214 passes through lugs 212 and 213 to pivotally securecam section 200A and supporting section 201A to each other. Lugs 212,lug 213 and pintle 214 define a hmge means interconnecting the camsection 200A and supporting section 201A. To the lateral extrem ty oflug 212 is fastened a transverse bar 215, which l1m1ts the movement ofcam section 200A away from the forward edge 08A of the su ortingsection.

2 To resiliently iirge cam section 200A in a forward direction, acompression spring 216 is interposed between the forward edge 208A ofthe supporting section and the rear edge 209A of the cam section. Thecompresslon spring 216 lies in the area of the cut-out 205A, which isprovided by spacing apart the forward edge 208A of the supportingsection from the rear edge of cam section 200A. Projection 211A, whichis defined by the forwardrnost lateral extremity of the supportingsection 201A, provides a stop means for limiting rearward movement ofthe cam section 200A.

The modification of FIG. 4 functions in the same manner as does thestructure shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment similar to that of FIG. 3, except that thesupporting section is narrower than that shown in FIG. 3. In thisembodiment, the supporting section comprises a narrow strip 217 integralwith cam section 200B, the connecting strip or portion 204B being theforward portion of supporting section 217. In this embodiment, there isno cut-out, as such, since there is no portion of the supporting sectionbehind the rear edge 209B of the cam section. To provide stop means forlimiting rearward movement of the cam section 2003, a vertical rod 218is mounted in the stationary annulus 10 of the machine, said rodextending upwardly to the plane of cam section 200B in such a positionthat the exterior surface of rod 218 is normally spaced rearwardly ofthe rear edge 209B of the cam section.

The cam plate 88 may, for example, be a steel plate two to ten incheslong, one to three inches wide, and about one-eighth to one-quarter ofan inch thick. The space or clearance between projection 211 and therear edge 209 of the cam section 200 may be between about one-sixteenthand three thirty-seconds of an inch. It will be appreciated that, byusing such relatively heavy steel stock, the connecting strip 204 willnot easily yield and therefore urge the camming surface 202 forwardlywith sufiicient force to produce the proper camming action on a leversuch as lever 91.

It is apparent that this invention is not limited to the exemplaryembodiments disclosed herein, and the description is to be interpretedin an illustrative, and not in a limiting, sense.

I claim:

1. A cam construction, comprising a supporting section, a cam sectionhaving a camming surface adjacent its forward end, means resilientlysecuring said cam sec tion to said supporting section for movement in adirection transverse to said camming surface, and stop means forlimiting rearward movement of said cam section.

2. A cam construction according to claim 1, wherein said stop meansincludes a projection on said supporting section extending toward, butspaced apart from, said cam section.

3. A cam construction according to claim 1, wherein said sections lie insubstantially the same plane and said securing means comprises aresilient connecting strip interconnecting said sections.

4. A cam construction according to claim 3, wherein said connectingstrip is integral with said sections.

5. A cam construction according to claim 4, including a projection onsaid supporting section extending toward, but spaced apart from, saidcam section to provide a stop means limiting rearward movement of saidcam section.

6. A cam plate having opposed longitudinal edges, the forward portion ofsaid plate defining a cam section having a camming surface near theforward extremity thereof and the rear portion of said plate defining asupporting section for supporting said cam section, said plate havingtherethrough a lateral cut-out intermediate said sections, said cut-outextending inwardly from one of said longitudinal edges toward, butterminating short of, the other of said longitudinal edges to provide arelatively narrow longitudinal portion of said plate defining aconnecting strip connecting said cam section to said support ing sectionfor pivotal movement toward and away from sa d supporting section, saidconnecting strip being reslhent and resiliently biasing said cam sectionforwardly.

7. A cam plate according to claim 6, wherein the forward edge of saidsupporting section has a forwardly extending projection thereon in thearea of said cut-out, said projection extending adjacent to, butnormally spaced apart from, the rear of said cam section to define astop limiting rearward movement of said cam section.

8. A cam plate according to claim 7, wherein said projection is adjacentsaid one longitudinal edge and said cut-out increases in area in adirection from said one longitudinal edge toward said other longitudinaledge.

9. A cam construction comprising a cam section having side edges and aforward edge defining a camming surface, a straight elongated supportingsection whose longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to the axis ofsaid cam section, and means resiliently securing the rear of sectionincludes hinge means and a spring normally urging said cam section awayfrom said supporting section.

11. A cam construction according to claim 9, wherein said securing meanscomprises a resilient connecting strip integral with and interconnectingsaid sections.

12. In combination, a cam construction and an element 10 to beperiodically moved by a camming surface of said cam construction, saidcam construction comprising a supporting section, a cam section having acamming surface adjacent its forward end, means resiliently securingsaid cam section to said supporting section for movement in a directiontransverse to said camming surface, and means for causing relativemovement between said element and said camming surface to periodicallycause said camming surface to contact said element for eifectingmovement of said element, said resilient means permitting less preciseadjustment of the spacing between said element and said camming surface.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,909,138 5/1933Vollmer 74-567 1,972,510 9/1934 Antonietta 74567 FOREIGN PATENTS 641,3935/1962 Canada.

FRED C. MATTERN, JR., Primary Examiner.

W. S. RATLIFF, JR., Assistant Examiner.

1. A CAM CONSTRUCTION, COMPRISING A SUPPORTING SECTION, A CAM SECTIONHAVING A CAMMING SURFACE ADJACENT ITS FORWARD END, MEANS RESILIENTLYSECURING SAID CAM SECTION TO SAID SUPPORTING SECTION FOR MOVEMENT IN ADIRECTION TRANSVERSE TO SAID CAMMING SURFACE, AND STOP MEANS FORLIMITING REARWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID CAM SECTION.